As The Rooster Crows

Home » About me (Page 2)

Category Archives: About me

Follow As The Rooster Crows on WordPress.com

“Good friends are like quilts-they age with you, yet never lose their warmth.”

Some of this was forwarded to me in an email and for those of you who fit the bill, so to speak, I’m sure you can relate. I love to share.

img_1596

One of many made by Herself.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

old-friends-on-bench

Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? That actually never happens in my case. I will dance with myself to those  wonderful tunes of the 50s, 60s & 70s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

old-folks-dancing

I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, eventually, I remember the important things.

forgetfulness

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect. You, mend a broken heart?

IMG_1968

Miss you Maggie.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, actually bald and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched  into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

sma_dunway_burial_at_arlington_national_cemetery_2008

a Wiki image

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore.  I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever,  but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

eating-sweets

My only regret,  is living in the Boon Docks and having to go searching for the high speed internet needed to get a Blog out!

18487107-high-speed-internet-speedometer-scoring-high-speed-illustration-design-over-white-stock-vector

Thanks Pinterest

 

Where are your priorities?

Last Sunday’s sermon at church addressed our priorities in life, specifically Christ and family. If we put Christ first and follow with family, everything else should fall into place. I just absolutely loved my granddaughter’s blog which I shared in my last posting. God and family are right there at the top of her priorities, and yes she is the “storm.” If you haven’t taken a look at her blog or my share, take a minute and do so. So young, so busy, so focused on priorities.

Back to the Sunday sermon. What is important in your life? I can’t do that right now, I have to mow the lawn. I’m sorry, maybe later, the ball game is coming on. Let’s do that some other time. And then of course there’s the computer, and all of it’s distractions.

is

None of us is perfect, but we can always check in with ourselves to ask: Is my relationship with my God as good as it can be? Do we communicate?  Is my relationship with my child as good as it can be given any major differences we may have, and if not, what can I do to make it better?

Well, the deliverer of that sermon used Harry Chapen’s “Cats in the Cradle” lyrics to highlight what too busy is. I want to share it. I want to make time.

Time passes quickly, don’t let it slip by you. Encourage the young, check on the elderly.

Cats in the Cradle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etundhQa724

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say, “I’m gonna be like you, dad
You know I’m gonna be like you.”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, dad; come on, let’s play
Can you teach me to throw?”

I said, “Not today, I got a lot to do.”
He said, “That’s okay.”
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him.”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
“Son, I’m proud of you. Can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
“What I’d really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later; can I have them please?”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, dad
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

I’ve long since retired, and my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind.”
He said, “I’d love to, dad, if I could find the time
You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kid’s got the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you.”

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, dad
We’re gonna have a good time then.”

Songwriters
CHAPIN, HARRY F./CHAPIN, SANDY
Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Growing up and attending Sunday School I will always remember the following song which I’d like to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CBtA1A-cR8

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children

Of the world.

Jesus died for all the children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus died for all the children

Of the world.

Jesus rose for all the children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus rose for all the children

Of the world.

My thought on this, if Jesus can do it, can’t we all do it?

From the Rooster’s Hutch to your house, Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Finally a Post

I look at the calendar and see November 17, 2016. I check back to my WordPress account and see my last post was written on October 14. So much has happened in the short expanse of time and nothing has gone to print.

ebwhitewritingquote

I reside in the middle of nowhere. Like, nowhere is there high speed internet. The best I can do is a Verizon Mi-Fi with the closest tower five miles away as the crow flies. I’ve mentioned this frustration numerous times in the past. Thank the good Lord my daughters are within 3.5 and 11 miles and afford me the opportunity to use their internet to download mail and to post blogs. Still, I hate having to leave my home writing venue to do this.

11/11/2016

Earlier today while my wife was at the Lions Hall making the cream for the Mac & Cheese to be a part of the Lions Beef dinner this weekend I started to do some online things. Just checking my email was a lost cause. It was Soooo slow that I packed up everything and headed to the 3.5 mile internet connection. Thank you Kathryn, Jeff and  Abby.  Libby (100 lbs. of Yellow Lab) has been well taken care of this afternoon.

Eighty seven emails were taken care, Blog follows were read and comments made where
pertinent. Now it’s time to review my journal and bring family and friends up to date on what’s been happening in the world of the Rooster.

Working backward today is Veterans Day. Congratulations to all who serve and did serve.

What Americans Don’t Understand About Their Own Military

11/10/2016

Yesterday was the 141st Birthday of the Marine Corps

 

A Family is separated

Last week my granddaughters husband was deployed to the sand. He and she are both Air Force Captains and graduates of the USAFA.

I’m including a couple of blogs my granddaughter posted, should give you some insight into their lives. Thanks for your service kids.

I Am the Storm

wp-1479248060939

Today, for about the 100th time, I was asked by a senior leader “How do you do it all ?” What he was referencing was me being active duty, Z being active duty and currently deployed, having 3 young kids, and being pregnant with our 4th. I laughed it off and he pushed, he wanted an answer, as did the 3 other senior leaders I was standing with. I told them we just do it (thank you Nike). It’s what we’ve always known and we don’t have a choice. We have to be great at our jobs both as parents, a couple, and officers in the military. That didn’t seem to pacify them. Here were three men, each having a minimum of 15 years in the military, wanting to know the secret recipe to having a successful family and career.

So here’s the secret recipe that I gave and it can be applied to everything in life.

1. We know that God has a plan and as long as we do our best it will come to pass. He also doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle.

2. We love deeply. We love ourselves, each other, our kids, our lives. Important note: Love and like are not the same thing 😁

3. We accept everything we are given graciously even if it’s not what we had in mind. This is not always easy and at times, well most times, it takes a while to get the graciously part.

4. We will never sacrifice our family. “BUT Z is missing the birth of your child” they said. True, but Z has to deploy at sometime, he’s going to miss stuff. He also has to deploy to upgrade and to move bases. If he turned down this deployment that timeline would have been delayed and there is a high chance we would be stationed apart in the future because he couldn’t move with us. A small sacrifice to avoid a larger one. We also have done a lot to still incorporate Z intot he family even though he’s not physically with us.

5. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy and we don’t dwell on the hard. Are we in a constant state of survival mode? Some days yes. But what you see as survival mode is our normal.

So when I saw this quote I thought, I am the storm. I dictate how my family will live. I can control what I can and everything else doesn’t matter. So be a storm in life. That doesn’t mean be destructive without regard for others. Take control of your life and live.

-S

Veteran’s Day

This is the first Veteran’s Day that isn’t about getting as many free deals as possible. This one is about being thankful for the sacrifice of my husband and those like my husband. They give up precious family time to defend our country and all those who reside within its boundaries.

So…how’s it been as a 31wk pregnant mom of 3 kids 3 and under and a husband who is going for some months?

It’s been ok. Z’s mom was awesome and flew out to help with the kids so we could have some last minute couple time. It also allowed me to drive Z to the airport and not take church friends away from their families. M was adorable, she’s super smart (not just saying that because I’m her mom). She knew Z was leaving and gave him a huge hug and kiss. She is a great oldest child and big sis.

img_3334

A and D have no idea what’s going on. A will notice in about a week that Daddy is gone (pray for me once that happens).

So what’s changed? I now keep my phone volume turned up at night or really any time I’m not at work. My home is also not as picked up as usual.

Here’s to a successful week 2.

-S

Rooster Logo

So now I feel better having gotten something on paper, so to speak. I close this post out and hopefully will get to something else I wish to share in the next 24 hours. As for right now, I’m off to Jersey Mikes for subs and then Walmart for batteries to light the Christmas candles herself is going to be putting in the window. And yes, I said Christmas Candles. We happen to put Christ in Christmas and if it offends you go read someone else’s blog.

 

Only Ten Percent Of People Can Pronounce All The Words In This Poem

I love to write, have written much and shall pull some stuff with dust and cobwebs at some point and share. Herself will tell you I love to talk, she is write, oops, right. I am an engaging person who loves words,  I want to learn everyone’s story and will also share my story when given the opening. When I read the following earlier today I just had to share.

 
How will you fare?

1473451042-lady54

Dearest creature in creation,

Studying English pronunciation,

I will teach you in my verse

Sounds like corpse, corps, horse and worse.

I will keep you, Suzy, busy.

Make your head with heat grow dizzy.

Tear in eye your dress you’ll tear,

So shall I! Oh, hear my prayer.

Pray, console your loving poet,

Make my coat look new, dear, sew it!

Just compare heart, beard and heard,

Dies and diet, lord and word.

Sword and sward, retain and Britain.

(Mind the latter, how it’s written).

Made has not the sound of bade,

Say said, pay-paid, laid, but plaid.

Now I surely will not plague you

With such words as vague and ague.

But be careful how you speak,

Say break, steak, but bleak and streak.

Previous, precious, fuchsia, via,

Pipe, snipe, recipe and choir,

Cloven, oven, how and low,

Script, receipt, shoe, poem, toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery:Daughter, laughter and Terpsichore,

Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles.

Exiles, similes, reviles.

Wholly, holly, signal, signing.

Thames, examining, combining,

Scholar, vicar, and cigar,

Solar, mica, war, and far.

From “desire”: desirable–

admirable from “admire.”

Lumber, plumber, bier, but brier.

Chatham, brougham, renown, but known.

Knowledge, done, but gone and tone,

One, anemone. Balmoral.

Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel,

Gertrude, German, wind, and mind.

Scene, Melpomene, mankind,

Tortoise, turquoise, chamois-leather,

Reading, reading, heathen, heather.

This phonetic labyrinth

Gives moss, gross, brook, brooch, ninth, plinth.

Billet does not end like ballet;

Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet;

Blood and flood are not like food,

Nor is mould like should and would.

Banquet is not nearly parquet,

Which is said to rime with “darky.”

Viscous, Viscount, load, and broad.

Toward, to forward, to reward.

And your pronunciation’s O.K.,

When you say correctly: croquet.

Rounded, wounded, grieve, and sieve,

Friend and fiend, alive, and live,

Liberty, library, heave, and heaven,

Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven,

We say hallowed, but allowed,

People, leopard, towed, but vowed.

Mark the difference, moreover,

Between mover, plover, Dover,

Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,

Chalice, but police, and lice.

Camel, constable, unstable,

Principle, disciple, label,

Petal, penal, and canal,

Wait, surmise, plait, promise, pal.

Suit, suite, ruin, circuit, conduit,

Rime with “shirk it” and “beyond it.”

But it is not hard to tell,

Why it’s pall, mall, but Pall Mall.

Muscle, muscular, gaol, iron,

Timber, climber, bullion, lion,

Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, and chair,

Senator, spectator, mayor,

Ivy, privy, famous, clamour,

And enamour rime with hammer.

Pussy, hussy, and possess,

Desert, but dessert, address.

Golf, wolf, countenance, lieutenants.

Hoist, in lieu of flags, left pennants.

River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,

Doll and roll and some and home.

Stranger does not rime with anger.

Neither does devour with clangour.

Soul, but foul and gaunt but aunt.

Font, front, won’t, want, grand, and grant.

Shoes, goes, does. Now first say: finger.

And then: singer, ginger, linger,

Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, and gauge,

Marriage, foliage, mirage, age.

Query does not rhyme with very,

Nor does fury sound like bury.

Dost, lost, post; and doth, cloth, loth;

Job, Job; blossom, bosom, oath.

Though the difference seems little,

We say actual, but victual.

Seat, sweat; chaste, caste.;

Leigh, eight, height;

Put, nut; granite, and unite.

Reefer does not rhyme with deafer,

Feoffer does, and zephyr, heifer.

Dull, bull, Geoffrey, George,

ate, late, Hint, pint,

Senate, but sedate.

Scenic, Arabic, Pacific, Science, conscience, scientific,

Tour, but our and succour, four, Gas, alas, and Arkansas.

Sea, idea, guinea, area, Psalm, Maria, but malaria,

Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean,

Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,

Dandelion with battalion.

Sally with ally, yea, ye,

Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, key, quay.

Say aver, but ever, fever.

Neither, leisure, skein, receiver.

Never guess–it is not safe:

We say calves, valves, half, but Ralph.

Heron, granary, canary,

Crevice and device, and eyrie,

Face but preface, but efface,

Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.

Large, but target, gin, give, verging,

Ought, out, joust, and scour, but scourging,

Ear but earn, and wear and bear

Do not rhyme with here, but ere.

Seven is right, but so is even,

Hyphen, roughen, nephew, Stephen,

Monkey, donkey, clerk, and jerk,

Asp, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation–think of psyche–!Is a paling, stout and spikey,

Won’t it make you lose your wits,

Writing “groats” and saying “grits”?

It’s a dark abyss or tunnel,

Strewn with stones, like rowlock, gunwale,

Islington and Isle of Wight,

Housewife, verdict, and indict!

Don’t you think so, reader, rather,

Saying lather, bather, father?

Finally: which rhymes with “enough”

Though, through, plough, cough, hough, or tough?

Hiccough has the sound of “cup.”

My advice is—give it up!

The above is from Country Living, you can view the entire article by way of the below web site.

http://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/news/a39790/only-ten-percent-of-people-can-pronounce-every-word-of-this-poem/

Rooster LogoSemper-fidelis

 

The Fork in the road.

121017014104-irpt-fork-road-story-top

CNN.com

3 Day Quote Challenge

Someone I follow http://www.thejourneyofamillionmiles.com/ is taking part in a three-day quote challenge by https://thechickengrandma.wordpress.com/category/farm/. Here I am jumping in on day two. I was inspired, and especially want to share my favorite quote of all times which is so meaningful to me.

I have an issue with individuals who can’t make a decision. Have you ever been in a restaurant and someone at your table says “So, what are you going to order?” Then they hem and haw, ask everyone around the table the same question and wind up saying, “Well, I just don’t know what looks good.” For crying out loud, “MAKE A DECISION”. It just drives me crazy.

I also think of those members of the Thin Blue Line, of which way back when,  I was a member. How will any hesitancy in their coming to the crosses in the road they deal with, effect if they get to go home at the end of their shift.

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Yogi Berra

 

 

fork-in-the-road

The photo is courtesy of http://www.singingwiththespirit.com/2014/09/05/the-fork-in-the-road-sept-7th/

Here is an all-inclusive list of Yogi’s quotes:

1. “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

2. “It’s deja vu all over again.”

3. “I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4.”

4. “Never answer an anonymous letter.”

5. “We made too many wrong mistakes.”

6. “You can observe a lot by watching.”

7. “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

8. “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.”

9. “It gets late early out here.”

10. “If the people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.”

11. “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”

12. “Pair up in threes.”

13. “Why buy good luggage, you only use it when you travel.”

14. “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”

15. “All pitchers are liars or crybabies.”

16. “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”

17. “Bill Dickey is learning me his experience.”

18. “He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.”

19. “I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.”

20. “I can see how he (Sandy Koufax) won 25 games. What I don’t understand is how he lost five.”

21. “I don’t know (if they were men or women fans running naked across the field). They had bags over their heads.”

22. “I’m a lucky guy and I’m happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary.”

23. “I’m not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.”

24. “In baseball, you don’t know nothing.”

25. “I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn’t my fault that I’m not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?”

26. “I never said most of the things I said.”

27. “It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.”

28. “I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.”

29. “I wish everybody had the drive he (Joe DiMaggio) had. He never did anything wrong on the field. I’d never seen him dive for a ball, everything was a chest-high catch, and he never walked off the field.”

30. “So I’m ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face.”

31. “Take it with a grin of salt.”

32. (On the 1973 Mets) “We were overwhelming underdogs.”

33. “The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.”

34. “You should always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise, they won’t come to yours.”

35. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

obit_berra_baseball-1

Sources: Los Angeles Times, Baseball Almanac, Baseball Digest, Catcher in the Wry (Bob Uecker), Sports Illustrated

Once again, thanks for stopping by.

Rooster LogoSemper-fidelis

I Know I’m Irish and a Writer

I awoke this morning at 0550, which is in the usual time frame of when I arise daily. On this day I knew I must be Irish. As I glanced out the window, clouds and rain were present once again.  The 53 degree temperature outside had made the house cool, especially when one is in drawers and a Tee shirt.

IMG_2269

The view this morning out the window.

 

I would go to the living room and get a fire going in the fireplace. Thanks to modern technology I had only to click a button on the starter gadget to get the propane to fire and bring instant warmth were you to stand in front of the flames. Twenty eight yers ago I would have been stoking a fire in the old Nashua cast iron stove in Connecticut.

In a month’s time we have had twenty-two days of measurable precipitation and our mean temperature’s have been 58f for a high and 48f for a low. One morning we awoke to a frost covered lawn and  35f. Oh yes, it’s Ireland, just 3,239 miles east of Galway is all. Please, let me experience some sun. Oh to sit outside in the garden and have a pint.

I consider myself a writer. I’ve been blogging since 2008. I started on Google, http://thefidd.blogspot.com/ was my moniker for the first seven years. Lots of stuff posted about family, friends, travel and such back then. It’s all retrievable should you care to take a look. Learn who El Jefe is and where he spends his time in this shrinking world of today.

I’ve branched out a bit since moving here to WordPress last year. I guess, thanks to the weather and the feeling of my living in Ireland that would make me feel like an Irish writer. Nothing to the tune from the likes of Beckett, Yeats, Joyce or Ian MacPherson from this hand, although I wish. I do add words to paper, ok, it’s the Mac, but that makes me a writer, right?

I’ve been to Europe on several occasions, Germany and Ireland to be specific. I’ve gotten to Ireland twice, most recently, not as an “Accidental Tourist.” “The Accidental Tourist” was an American film featured in Baltimore, MD, my home state and adapted from the novel of the same name written by Anne Tyler. The film came out in 1988, my first year to blog, thus the significance. Means nothing of course.

Our most recent trip to Ireland by my me and the wife was this past December. We traveled with a dear friend by the name of O’Leary who’s mother hosted us for a week. No touristy stuff, we were village people. The town was Kilkenny, we had mist and rain, cold and blustery and it felt like Maryland in May. The house we stayed in was warm, had a fireplace, a wonderful hostess and five pounds gained of great food. Marios is a great place for Fish and Chips if you’re ever in Kilkenny. Yep, I’m  Irish and a writer and I eat like one and enjoy a pint now and then .

While in Kilkenny we shopped one day at a pottery, “Nicholas Mosse” is the name. Bennett’s Bridge is where Nicholas Mosse calls home. It sits along the river Nore, just down the road a piece from the town. It seems our host’s wife Lexi has a love for this pottery and has numerous pieces about their home. It being the Christmas season, why not get some shopping in says our host.

 

IMG_1727

Me wife, standing in the rain. I just noticed, she was spending her euros also. Notice the bag.

 

Since I’m not much into pottery, or shopping for that matter, I would find an alternative means of occupying my time. Located on the second floor of the pottery was a quaint little Cafe. Some coffee, a sweet roll and a table by the window would serve me well. I’d read the local paper and gather material for the next blog. While the shoppers shopped, the writer researched. In Ireland on a rainy blustery day I might add a few words to a future best seller. Oh the dreams that exist. The coffee was fantastic and so was the view by the way. I’m really in Ireland and I’m writing.

IMG_1690

The Rooster reading the local tabloid.

Yes, in one respect as far as I’m concerned, and the Weather God has made it such, I’m an Irish writer, even on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Ireland has her Cliffs of Moher. Maryland has her Calvert Cliffs.

Ian MacPherson has a new book out. The only one living of the lot I mentioned.

You can get it here. >   blaise-cover-website

The dedication inside the cover reads like this.

For Maggi

my one wish –
that we die together
at the age of 96
making love

with all our children

at the bedside

That’s the dedication. Isn’t it truly, truly beautiful?
And they say great poetry is dead!

THE BOOK OF BLAISE
‘He is a standup comedian with an acerbic wit, leaving you breathless with laughter at the sheer absurdity of life, and his life in particular. To say that his act is based on things going wrong is like saying that Genghis Khan was a warmonger. It gives you the idea, but does not indicate the sheer scale of the enterprise. And The Book of Blaise is the Everest of absurdity.’
FOR THE JOY OF READING

‘Kick Myles Na GCopaleen into the next century and you’d get something like Ian Macpherson – the same eye for absurdity, the same ear for wordplay’
David Robinson: Emeritus Literary Editor – The Scotsman

‘The Book of Blaise is the unapologetically personal account of one man’s struggle with the superiority of women, specifically his wife Blaise. It’s the funniest book I’ve read since… his last one.’
NORTHWORDS NOW

Thanks once again for stopping by. The temperature, just to let you know is 58 degrees F., or should it be F’n degrees?               Semper-fidelis

Rooster Logo

Get Milk

IMG_2236

 

Yesterday was an exciting day for me, I was to attend my first Cardiac Rehabilitation class. On Monday I had the mandatory Stress Test to evaluate my ability to physically perform in Rehab. Somehow I passed the test, God knows I did not study. I’m guessing the 4,000  – 7500 steps I’ve been taking these past two months aided me a bit in that regard. I’ll get to that 10,000 step level before long. Keep putting one foot in front of the other Rooster.

I’m on my own for a few weeks. My wife has headed up to Connecticut to be a companion to my sister. My sister is having some health issues at the moment and my wife is out doing her Corporal Works of Mercy.  It is a calling with this woman I married, she is amazing. It’s not her first walk around this block. My wife is a retired nurse as was this sister and another sister I have in Virginia is a nurse also.  I also have have a daughter who is a nurse to add to the flock. If you are ever  ill and are surrounded by women in this vocation, you shall get no pity. Just ask this writer.  Oh, and just to mention, my mother in-law was a nurse also, God rest her sole.

Prior to leaving the house I wrote myself a note, “Remember Milk” it said. I usually place these reminders in front of the Speedometer of my car. A wise Lawyer once said in a Criminal Justice class I attended many years ago, “If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.” At my age, in this time of my life, if it’s not written down it’s not going to happen.

SpeedCamera-with-Cruiser      Now my wife who is several months younger than I, she writes little to nothing down, remembers groceries and such to include several weeks of stock in the larder. She will not need a shopping list to feed 37 at Thanksgiving. Her only memory loss, the placement of speed cameras on the roads she travels daily to get to the store. These edifices never move, they are stationary on cement pads.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Send $40 to the appropriate municipality. I’ve recently learned that there are several other ladies who have the same lapse in memory in our town. You are not alone my dear, I love you just the same. Write the check Rooster.

Upon my successful completion and survival of my first Cardiac Rehab session I gingerly walked to my car, got behind the steering wheel, and there was the note. “GET MILK” it said. I checked the wallet and had a twenty, no problem right? I mean whats a half gallon of milk cost, a twenty will surely cover it.

348s   I pull into the local grocery store, in this case it was Giant, yes the same Giant with the easy scan self checkout machines. Dare I go this route again? I parked way far back from the entrance, the better to get more steps in you see. You also get a pull through spot that way, easy drive out. I keep track of my steps with my new Fit Bit Blaze watch.

I  make the walk, entered the store, and started towards the far back right, bread by the way is at the far left rear. They get us to pass a plethora of items this way. I passed through the Wine and Beer aisle and noticed  Starborough, Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015 on sale for $10.99. This usually sells for $15.99. Two bottles in the cart, what a bargain.
I got to the rear of the store and the Dairy section, find my 1/2 gallon of milk, $3.49. Into the cart it goes. Why I didn’t just grab one of the hand carry basket I don’t know. Pushing the cart up the aisle past the juices, Simply Lemonade jumped right out to me. You see I enjoy an Arnold Palmer on those warm days, Ice Tea and Lemonade is how I make it. The sun is bound to appear sometime and things will warm up. Into the basket, $2.50, thank you very much.

light bulb idea

A light bulb went off and I remembered I had planned on having a left over Chicken and Apple Brat for lunch. A salad would go good with that I thought. Cut a diagonal to the far left rear of the store, more steps on my Fit Bit Blaze watch I’m thinking. In route to the Deli I pass the Grocery aisles, A sign jumps out at me, Quinoa 2 for $5.00. Not something my wife would purchase but I enjoy it. A can of Black and a can of Red Kidney beans said “take me” also, .79 cents. “Another bargain” says I. Glad I have the push cart now.

I paused as I passed the Coffee and Tea aisle. Did the wife get Tea last week I wondered? Into the cart goes Irish Breakfast and English Black Breakfast tea. The cost, $3.29 and $3.39.

POUNDS

I’m guessing the ten cents difference is due to the upgraded Pound Sterling compared to the Euro. The poor Irish, belittled again.

Just as I was exiting the aisle a box of Folger’s, Gourmet Columbian, Keurig single cup 12 pack jumped into my cart. My lady likes the milder beans you see. While the wife’s away, the grocer I’ll pay. I love my bold coffee. This stop only cost me $7.49. Ah, but I’ll have a smile on my face tomorrow morning.

From this pause in route I would finally continue to the Deli and purchase my Salad. I would choose a fresh Broccoli Crunch, the young lady was spooning the newly made item into it’s stainless steel bowl as I arrived. It doesn’t get any fresher than that. I asked for half pound and she nailed it, .50 lb, on the money. “How often does that happen” I say to myself.  The cost, $2.30 for a half pound.

I would leave the Deli and finally head to the check out. As I approached the the check out, the lines were all full. I wandered to the left and the cursed Self Check Out. Over in the Produce area I faintly spied apples. I knew I was out, we only buy four at a time and I had consumed my four since I’d been left a single man last week. You guessed it, to Produce and four more apples. Fuji apples they were, $1.78 lb @ 1.99 / lb. Ka-Ching,  $3.54 for the apples.

There just happens to be an old song by Shania Twain called “Ka-Ching” and it followed another song of her’s called “Gotcha Good.”  Well Giant’s grocery store got me good, to the tune of $54.56, $1.98  of that was state tax by the way. All this for a 1/2 gallon of milk @ $3.49, Ka-Ching.

Hello Self Check out. Pay the bill and push the cart to the back of the parking lot, 2,362 steps, thanks Milk. I’m a bit healthier because of this experience.

Thanks for the look see.

Semper Fi

Rooster Logo

 

My First Road Trip

Three weeks post op today my friends.

Yesterday I had a follow-up with the CV Surgeon who performed my Cardiac Bypass. Both he and one of the P.A.s as well as a nurse checked my wounds. I look and feel like what it might be like to have survived a knife fight. I’m not sure if I won or lost. Were I the winner, I would hate to see the loser were this a knife fight.

nurse thumbs up

I got congratulated by the nurse for doing a fine job eliminating my tape residue which has stuck all over my mid section. While in the hospital numerous drains, monitor wires and lung tubes were beneath these bandages. Not to mention the slice running the entire length of my ribs. Through daily use of Alcohol, nail polish remover,  Kerosene, and numerous other potions that would remove the sticky gooey tape, I had done a yeoman’s job apparently. They were impressed.

d064ecb0837baa51941581d9f7bb13a9

The surgeon stated he was happy with my progress and was giving me my walking papers, so to speak. Any further follow up would be monitored by my Cardiologist. In addition to saying thank you to the surgeon I got one giant piece of good news. You see, it was this man who had the power to let me drive once again, a privilege I lost three weeks ago. Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I’m free at last. Damn, I forgot to ask if I got an extended warranty with this cutting. If I get another sixteen years I’ll be quite happy.

I left that appointment feeling like a new person, one hurdle on the road to recovery completed. Next would be the Cardiology consult later this week. Early next month I will begin Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. That’s a physical fitness and education program run by the hospital for those who have one type of cardiac event or other. It would not be a new experience for me.

This will be my fourth trip through the program. I had Bypass surgery sixteen years ago, a Stent and pace maker implanted which all got me back into this wonderful program. Once again it is time for the pain and suffering to begin. I’m looking forward to getting started. After that program it will be going back to the MAC Center and my old workout routines. I was doing Stretch/ROM & Flexibility, and chair yoga. I’m sure it will be like starting anew.

So, this morning I would take my first trip alone behind the wheel of my Ford Escape. A 2000 model with 239,000 miles I might add. Yes, I like to get my monies worth. My trusty Pick up truck, a 1992 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 143,000 miles is still running and very serviceable for our needs. Vehicle number three at my disposal is a 2012 Subaru Forester with 84,000 miles. A great car in the mountains with the paddle shift feature, I might add. No mountains today on the Eastern Shore, thus the Escape.

escape

Our dog, Maggie, a standard Poodle would need a ride to the groomers for a Spa session today and I would drive her. Here I am 73 years old and feeling like a kid getting behind the wheel once again. My wife would first take Maggie on her mile and a half walk to the local yacht club for her morning exercise and business elimination run.

IMG_1968.JPG

It’s 0730, I pick up Maggie from the little woman and we are off on our thirty minute drive to the spa, well, almost. You see we here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore were greeted with a bit of snow this morning and the temperature was 33 F. Really Mr. Meteorologist, I’m scraping snow off the windshield and warming the car prior to departing. Average high for April 5, 60F. Global warming???

I remembered all the basics of driving, seat belt on, in park, foot on brake, turn key, engine starts. Maggie in the rear sitting expectantly for her first ride with her old traveling companion, Most everywhere I go she goes, we’re a pair.

The first few miles through rural country is uneventful. I approach a major north south route on which I must enter to connect to the Bypass, (sounds familiar). Once I’ve crossed to the center medium I start looking to the right to enter the high speed lane of a two lane highway. As I’m twisting in the seat to observe safe passage, the seatbelt restrains me and irritates my chest. Oh yes, they had to spread those 24 ribs once again didn’t they?

Each intersection further into the trip would bring about the same discomfort. My right Scapula, that’s the bone that connects the Humorous (Not),  with the Clavicle has hurt like hell at times since the surgery. My neck a victim of two extensive surgeries was beginning to cause issues also. Just sitting in the drivers upright position was causing discomfort. Perhaps asking for this privilege was a bit premature. Tough it out Rooster, don’t be a wimp.

I would drop off Maggie with her stylist and make the return trip home in considerable more pain than when I left. I was also quite tuckered out. It was time for a couple of Tylenol, no drugs have entered this system since my discharge. I never took anything for pain this morning, a mistake.

tylenol

What I have learned from this bit of freedom is that I’m not ready to drive to Connecticut just yet. All things slow and in due time. Now I await the call to pick up Maggie.

“Honey, would you mind picking up Maggie?” I’ll stay home and let Simon in, (Cat).

Have a great day all and thanks for stopping by.

Rooster LogoSemper-fidelis

The Curse of Self Check Out

Last week the Mrs. and I visited Giant, our local super market. Throughout this great country of ours we have these stores everywhere with different names. Living here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Salisbury in particular, we only have two choices, Giant or Food Lion. Food Lion was recently purchased by Giant for those who do not know. Giant by the way is owned by Royal Ahold, a Dutch company. They also own Stop and Shop, although they are not in our neck of the woods.

No Whole Foods, Publix, Albertsons, or Trader Joe’s in our neck of the woods. We were once told in an article in our local paper that a Harris Teeter would not be opening here as we were not sophisticated enough to warrant them coming here.  Come to think of it, I never even saw an Editorial in the paper about that.

Royal Ahold, the designation “Royal” from Dutch Queen Beatrix in 1987, awarded to companies that have operated honorably for one hundred years. Well, I contend that they do not operate honorably and you only have but to go through the Self Check-out to prove this.

We went to the store to pick up a few items, not a lot mind you.The store was quite crowded, perhaps a snow storm pending? Every register had a line and there was even a line of several people waiting on Self Check Out. What the hell we thought, three people waiting, eight machines, be done in a flash, right? Wrong!

checkout

Step one, declare nationality. Think about it people, how often are we told, we are all one? At least Bernie Sanders’ says something like that.  Not in a grocery store Mr or Ms politician. They also want to know if you brought your own bags, which we do. The provided plastic bags rip and of course environmentally, are a disaster. After telling the machine we have our own bags, it tells us to place bag on the proper space for bagging. Instantly we hear, “Remove item from bag and please scan.” Now we’ve put nothing in yet understand. I repeat the process, not once, but two or three times at least.

Lights, sirens, customer needs assistance, “Bad Boys, Bad Boys, What you gonna do when they come for you?”

Up walks a 18 or 19 something polite young man, most likely a Salisbury University student to provide assistance. S U is our local University by the way. “What seems to be the problem Sir,” he asks politely. I explain about the bag and scan question the robot uttered and he just smiled. He scanned his do all,  I’m in charge here card and started my process all over again. “ Just start from the beginning sir, you’ll be good now.”

Our helper leaves and goes off to another flashing light. We remove the bag, place the bag back on the stand and hear “Remove item from bag and please scan.” My wife looks at me, rolls her eyes, much as she does when I have erred in one way or another. I clear my throat, as I’m told by my wife and children is something that I do when consternation is present.

I beat our helper to the problem, remove the bag and attempt to rectify the issue myself, wrong. There is now a prompt on my screen, “Please wait for assistance.” Yes, the light is flashing, and there’s that Bad Boys music in my head again. I glance around and see that I’m getting that, “ you stupid @#” after a brief wait. It appears there are several other morons getting assistance also.You dummy, visualizes from several folks in the wait line. I am now with furrowed brow. Back comes my helper.

On this occasion our aide stays with us, starts the process again for us, hits a button or two, places the bag in the holder, squaring it up all pretty like and begins.  He in turn gets the same prompt several times. I’m starting to feel a bit better of myself. Finally he is able to scan an item and places it in the bag. “Your all set now sir,”  he says. “Oops” I say. “Gotta put my reward # in.” Start over Rooster. Ok, everything is in properly, once again he double checks the bag. He neatly places the bag on it’s designated spot. “Ah Ha,” “Please remove item from bag and scan.” He’s a moron also people.

The young lad then proceeds to go into a Doctoral Dissertation about the lack of the machine being able to recognize bags other than what is plastic and hanging on the racks. Mind you now, my bag is a “Giant” bag, bought at this store. We begin once more. Bingo, after several more tries it works, finally we’re off and scanning.

I take a glance at the line, the lady in front has this look on her face that could commit murder. Steam is being emitted from her nostrils, her leg is driving her foot into the tiles, much like a bull about to charge the Matador.

angry-bull-attack_140929906

I am truly in fear for my life. I look at her, point to myself, shake my head “Not me,” point back to the Robot and plead “it’s this thing.” She is not amused, I am in the spot light,“Bad Boys” chimes in my head.

I scan a few items and am now on a roll. Then the unthinkable happens, I now have to scan two bottles of wine. “Please wait for assistance.” Blue light special tuns on, I start to tremble and glance towards the raging bull standing in line. She looks at me in disgust, daggers are piercing me, thrust from her eyes. Over once again over comes this lad to verify this 72 year old, soon to meet his demise at the hands of this vile woman in line, is in fact over 21 and legally able to purchase the wine. We have a bottle of KJ Chardonnay and Raging Bull (HOW APPROPRIATE) Cabernet.

BrowserPreview_tmp31I’m finished, just have to get through scanning my card. I fumble for my wallet, pull out the card, push the necessary Credit buttons. God forbid I should push the Debit button, the Bank will charge me 2% to do that. Plus, I’ll most likely enter the wrong Pin on this fateful day.  “REJECT,” Crap, I used my Sam’s club card. I glance around, feeling guilt like never before, I reach for my wallet again, knowing everyone is looking at me now and start over. I replace Sam’s card and pull my Rapid Rewards. Gotta get those points you know.

Finally it tallies, issues me my receipt, and I grab my one bag. It’s taken me longer this trip than purchasing a pre Thanksgiving meal for 25. One Bag, 7 items, two bottles of wine. As I turn to leave I’m face to face with “HER.” I smile and say, “I hope your experience with this machine is more pleasant than mine. Have a great Day.”  She glares!

Raging woman

Please, make her experience be everything that mine was, payback you know.

“Royal Ahold,” yep, )(  an appropriate name.

For some more on why Self Check-Outs don’t work:

http://www.marketplace.org/2012/03/30/life/commentary/why-self-checkout-lanes-dont-work

Rooster Logo    Semper-fidelis

Why do I feel this way?

 

Our day in Eden

Our tables were set early for 32 guests to arrive for a great Thanksgiving meal. The menu will be added to my Daily Journal to be forever captured in past memories. Fourteen months in a row without missing a day’s events, I’m amazed at myself for Journal accomplishment.

The Menu IMG_1622.JPG

The Tables

IMG_1608.JPG

The Washington Post had a great article Titled “Too Much of a Good Thing.” The below captured images are from that article. Should you wish to read the entire article go to http://tablet.washingtonpost.com/top/too-much-of-a-good-thing/2014/11/27/54fe3a4e20e8d79deb723925b649918c_story.html?wpisrc=nl_draw

1st part

tablet.washingtonpost.com

The Grand and Great children down in Oklahoma City, OK.

The parents, Air Force Officers at Tinker AFB and Mama awaiting child #3 in a few weeks, decided to put up the tree. That would be Mia looking on in wonderment. The socks all tidy and neat in a row, waiting for a little foot to add to the flow.

We missed you guys, thank you so much for your service, you were in our thoughts and prayers.

Abby in Mississippi

th

For the first time ever, no Abby. It seems the Egg Bowl took precedence over Turkey. I thought a turkey laid eggs also. See you soon for Semester Break kiddo. Study hard, “go State.”

No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 23 Mississippi State set for Egg Bowl

A CelebrationDSCF0671

This past Monday my wife and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary. We slipped away to Fall River, Massachusetts with another couple, played pinochle on our wedding night after a Chinese dinner and returned to our jobs in New Jersey the next day.

Fifty years later our two daughters were in Baltimore, Maryland and Portland, Maine, our son was in Connecticut and we did our thing. We ate Chinese Take-Out and watched a Movie. And the movie was: “the Holiday” with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, one of our favorites.

Neither one of us are purchasing GOLD. We purchased GREEN instead.

We will be off to Ireland shortly.ireland_map

To all my readers, a day late “Happy Thanksgiving” from Eden, MD, USA.

God Bless, be safe and ever Vigilant,

Semper-fidelis

Rooster Logo